Spark-indicator



H. ANDERSON.

smx mmcuon.

APPLICATIGN FILED AUG.9| I915- 1 ,306,844. Patented June 17, 1919.

WITNESSES INVENTOR HOMER ANDERSON, 0F PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

SPARK-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Application filed August 9, 1915. Serial No. 44,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOMER ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Peekskill, in the county of W'estchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Spark-Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to static current ignition systems in explosive engines, and has for its object an indicator that will show the condition of the sparking at the spark plugs in the cylinders of the engines. It is applicable to any engine whether it be on an automobile, boat, or elsewhere; and it is made in single and in multiple units, for use directly upon the spark plug or anywhere intermediate between the spark plug and the current distributor. Made in multiple units it is designed to be placed within the vehicle where used, so that it will be directly in view of the driver of the machine. The objects are attained by the means set forth in this specification and the accompanying drawings, in both of which like letters and numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan of the top of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device as a single unit. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the device. Fig. i is a plan artly in section of a multiform embodying the equivalent of four units. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the device in multiple. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of a casing inclosing the device. Fig. 7 shows a spring method of securing the casing to the device. Fig. 8 is a plan of the bottom of the unit shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 9 is a plan of a development of the units around a central point. Fig. 10 is an elevation partly in section of the central portion of the device shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a. modified form of the device as a unit.

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 11 show a device comprised of a base a of fiber, hard rubber, porcelain or other suitable non-conducting material, of rectangular, square, or circular outer contour. Centrally a recess r'is cut into the base somewhat ast the center, and forward of the center' of the base the mate rial is cut away to make the recess of conical form, as in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 11, or it may be flared from the bottom of the cham her to the face, as in Figs. 1, 6, 9 and 10-.

Around the outer edge of the conical recess l a recess m is formed to receive a plate of glass, mica or other transparent material, as at n. A hole is made vertically through the base intersecting the recess, and threaded to receive through the top of the base a screw I), and through the base below the recess a screw 0. The screw 6 is pointed upon its inner end, and is provided outside of the with a check nut e and a thumb nut i. The screw is slotted in its outer end for the use .of a screw driver. The screw 0 is shown with a blunt inner point, a shoulder 11 to abut against the outer surface of the base, and the outer end of the screw is elongated, turned at an angle to the base as at 12,. and terminates in a flattened end (I, perforated as at d, Fig. 3.

This unit indicator can be used by attaching it by the arm 03 to the spark plug. and the circuit wire under the nut'i.

By making a number of these units in one base, as in Figs. 4 and 5 the device may be laced independently of the spark plugs, and at any point of observation where all the sparkings may be seen at a glance. The regular form would be as shown in Fig. 4, with the lower screws 0 provided with check nuts as at f g, the screws 7) being as in Fig. 5, and as shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. Vertical sections through the centers of the sparking points in either Figs. 4 or 5 would show the same as in Fig. 3, except as to the terminals of the lower screws 0, which, in the multiple device, are adapted for direct wire connections, as in Figs. 4 and 6.

The combination shown in Fig. 4 is designed for a four cylinder engine and is adapted for placement on the dashboard of a vehicle, as in Fig. 6, A representing the dashboard, 3 the wires from the current distributer, 4 the wires leading to the four spark plugs. A casing t t, Figs. 4, 6 and 7, incloses the indicator. An opening t" discloses the recesses l, and a plate of glass is under the opening in the casing. To secure the casing on the base springs 4:, Figs. 4 and 7, are fast to the casing, and they catch in recesses r in the ends of the base, as in Figs. 6 and 7.

In cases where one side of a circuit can be connected with the electrodes on one side of the indicator and a distributor can take the current through the electrodes of the other side of the indicator, the electrodes of the receiving side can be attached to a single plate,

as at h, Fi 5, with a single wire connector I) f g. This form of indicator resolves itself into a circular form of construction as in Fig. 9. A heptagonal, or it may be round, base is used for a four cylinder engine, the distributing connections are made upon four sides as shown, with the central electrode 8 8 attached to the fifth side. This central electrode shown in elevation in Fig. 10. From the stem 8 the points 1 project toward the points of the opposite electrodes. The lower extension of the part 8 is set within the base, and has a screw 10 in its end, and'a hole for a circuit wire 4. In providing for the distributer connections the electrodes 6, Fig. 9, are made with heads 5 that screw into the threaded sockets as shown. A screw b sets down toward the head. At the junction of the head 5 and the screw 6, elongated holes 7 are provided through the base for the insertion of connecting wires, as at 3, the elongation of the holes admitting of the adjustments of the electrode 5. The base is incloscd within a casing which is removably held to the base by springs 'v in the casing and notches in the base similarly to the showin in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 5 the face of the base is shown to be recessed the full length of the conical recesses to receive a mica or other transparent body, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 11. An opaque body may be used instead of a transparent, and the closure may be fitted tight, so that the sparking at the electrodes may be in practically an airtight space. In Figs. 4 6 and 7 a glass is shown as covering the recesses.

In Fig. 1, which is a plan of the top of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the connecting terminal of the electrode 1 is shown to be inserted through the back of the base, the point 1 coming in range of the top electrode. The top electrode is omitted from the figure for elearness of the other details,

In Fig. 11 is shown a modification of-the shape of the base from the one shown in Fig. 2. Except for the circular outer contour the device is the same as thatflshown-in Fig.

2. The shape of the recess in the unit base, or the separation of the recesses in the multiunit bases, are important only as affecting the strength of the base, depending upon the material of the base. A mini-mum amount of substance is cut away as will secure a clear vision of the sparking at the electrodes;

Copies of this patent may he obtained for and the less open space there is the less will be the chances for dust accumulations, and the chances for short circuits between the various parts. Otherwise, a single elongated recess can be made in the combinations. The combination can be made up in any number of units, for two to ten cylinder engines, or any required size. The niulti-unit indicator can, of course, be made up of any number of the unit devices; likewise, a multi-indicator can be made up by combining in one base air gap arrangements differing from those herein shown, and it is not intended that in making this invention it shall be limited to the exact arrangements of the parts as herein shown.

In any vessel or vehicle the distance this indicator may be placed from the engine or distributer is unimportant, since the tension of the electric currents employed will render negligible the resistance of the length of wire used for installation.

This device in the unit form affords a convenient means for testing the action of the spark plugs; and in the multi-units constitutes an indicator that will be a constant telltale upon the eflicient working of an ignition system. In addition to that they are a means for overcoming weaknesses of insulation in spark plugs, acting upon the well known principle of an auxiliary air gap.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a spark indicator the combination of an insulating body, a conical cavity in one end of the body, electrodes extending through said body and terminating in said cavity to form a spark gap, and means for making electrical connections to said electrodes.

2. In a spark indicator, the combination of an insulating body, a conical cavity in one end of the body, electrodes extendin through said body and terminating in said conical cavity to form a spark gap, a transparent inclosure of said conical cavity, and means for making electrical connections to said electrodes.

Signed at Peekskill, in the county of VVestc'hester and State of New York, this 6th day of August, A. D. 1915.

HOMER ANDERSON. lVitnesses:

DOUGLAS DEF. ANDERSON, E. J. HORTON.

fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

